Conservation Lands Foundationhttp://conservationlands.org
We protect, expand and restore the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) National Conservation Lands so that they endure from generation to generation.Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:26:27 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1CLF Statement on Interior Secretary Nomineehttp://conservationlands.org/clf-statement-on-interior-secretary-nominee
http://conservationlands.org/clf-statement-on-interior-secretary-nominee#respondFri, 09 Dec 2016 20:43:29 +0000http://conservationlands.org/?p=10520read more]]>Durango, Colo. (December 9, 2016) – The Conservation Lands Foundation today responded to reports that Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers will be the President-elect’s pick to lead the Interior Department—the agency charged with managing America’s natural and cultural resources and overseeing several major land management agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The Interior Secretary is charged with being the chief steward of our national parks, National Conservation Lands and other public lands, which provide clean air, water and wildlife habitat, and drive a $646 billion outdoor recreation economy,” said Brian O’Donnell, Conservation Lands Foundation Executive Director. “We have inherited the greatest estate of protected public lands in the world thanks to past visionaries like Teddy Roosevelt—whose legacy President-elect Trump has said he intends to honor. As Interior Secretary, Rep. McMorris Rodgers must ensure that we protect, rather than plunder, this incredible gift.”

“Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ voting record in Congress is starkly anti-conservation, including support for selling off public lands and weakening our nation’s bedrock conservation laws such as the Antiquities Act. This record is of immense concern to Americans who treasure our parks, wildlife, and National Conservation Lands. It is incumbent on the U.S. Senate to fully evaluate Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ positions and ensure she will responsibly steward the lands that belong to all Americans.”

“Despite her anti-conservation record, the Conservation Lands Foundation sincerely hopes that McMorris Rodgers can rise to this occasion, and manage in a way that honors the legacy of Presidents like Teddy Roosevelt, and reflects the will of the overwhelming majority of the American people who cherish our public land heritage.”

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The Conservation Lands Foundation is the only organization dedicated solely to protecting, restoring and expanding the National Conservation Lands so they will endure from generation to generation. The National Conservation Lands are 35 million acres of protected public lands, rivers and trails managed by the Bureau of Land Management, that have joined the ranks of our national parks and wildlife refuges as guardians our nation’s natural, cultural and outdoor heritage, and drivers of its $646 billion outdoor recreation economy. www.ConservationLands.org

The group cited the Senator’s dedication and legislative acumen over his long career in public service, noting he has protected millions of acres of public lands that benefit all Americans.

Brian O’Donnell, Executive Director, issued this statement:

“Harry Reid has been an incredible conservation champion. He is unmatched in his passion for Nevada’s wild places and his effectiveness in safeguarding them. While he may be leaving office, his legacy will benefit Nevada’s—and the nation’s—wildlife, water, and scenic grandeur. Future generations will owe him a debt of gratitude. We are honored to have worked with him and will dearly miss his conservation leadership.”

]]>http://conservationlands.org/clf-statement-on-senator-harry-reids-historic-contributions-to-conservation/feed0Edison International is CLF’s Corporate Partner of the Yearhttp://conservationlands.org/edison-international-clfs-corporate-partner-of-the-year
http://conservationlands.org/edison-international-clfs-corporate-partner-of-the-year#respondMon, 05 Dec 2016 21:21:23 +0000http://conservationlands.org/?p=10452read more]]>The staff and board members of the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) are pleased to announce Edison International as our 2016 Corporate Partner of the Year. Douglas Bauder, Vice President, Operational Services, Chief Procurement Officer, accepted the award at a special dinner November 16 in Palm Springs, California. The award, given for the first time this year, recognizes Edison International for its early and ongoing support of CLF’s Restoration Program.

“We are incredibly grateful for Edison International’s financial support, for the tangible outcomes this support has created on southern California’s beautiful National Conservation Lands, and for the outstanding veterans who served with the California Conservation Corps to carry out this critical work,” said Charlotte Overby, CLF Restoration Program Director.

Edison International has donated $140,000 to the Conservation Lands Foundation over the past four years and helped establish our From Military Service to Green Service program. This program brings together veterans, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff and volunteers from Friends Grassroots Network organizations to restore habitat for fish and wildlife, improve access for visitors and help protect cultural resources on the National Conservation Lands. Equally as important, this program provides paid job opportunities for post-9/11 military veterans. In addition to earning pay, veterans receive training and mentoring to build skills and experience, helping them to pursue careers in natural resources management and other related fields.

A brief summary of our From Military Service to Green Service program’s accomplishments:

2015: Black Mountain Wilderness, north of Barstow, CA. A 10-member Veterans Conservation Corps completed a two-week long restoration project, which included putting up more than 100 route signs to mark approximately 23 miles around the wilderness boundary, installing new educational kiosks (see photo below), closing 13 miles of illegal roads, and removing nearly eight tons of trash. In partnership with California Wilderness Coalition and college students from Cal State-Long Beach. (full story)

2016: Rodman Mountains Wilderness, California Desert, near Barstow. Twelve post-9/11 veterans completed a variety of work, including posting signs, identifying and marking routes, erosion control and habitat restoration, and conducting environmental education and outreach. Additional project partners included the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Victor Valley Community College Veterans Club, and other volunteers from neighboring communities who worked alongside the Veteran Conservation Corps. (blog)

Coming in 2017:Sand to Snow National Monument. Scheduled for early spring, 14 post-9/11 veterans will work in one of the nation’s newest National Monuments, designated by President Obama in 2016. Sand to Snow is in need of trail markers and educational signs to manage visitors and protect its significant natural resources. In addition, an important part of this project will be to ensure protection of Native Americans archaeological sites in a heavily visited area called Black Lava Buttes. In partnership with Mojave Desert Land Trust.

]]>http://conservationlands.org/edison-international-clfs-corporate-partner-of-the-year/feed0CLF Welcomes New California Program Director, Announces New Positionhttp://conservationlands.org/clf-welcomes-new-ca-program-director
http://conservationlands.org/clf-welcomes-new-ca-program-director#respondThu, 01 Dec 2016 22:11:19 +0000http://conservationlands.org/?p=10445read more]]>The Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) is pleased to announce that Elyane Stefanick has joined our team as California Program Director. Elyane is a seasoned foundation expert, coming most recently from the Hewlett Foundation and Arabella Advisors. She is committed to grassroots organizations and has already proven to be a valuable member of the team.

Elyane will oversee our California program including CLF’s policy program, grant making and support of the Friends Grassroots Network in the golden state. Elyane will join Mariana Maguire, Southern California Associate Director for Conservation, who will continue to lead our efforts in the California desert.

“I’m thrilled to be joining this team, contributing to the defense of America’s public lands, and engaging communities to protect our cultural, historic and conservation legacy. All of us in the conservation community have our work cut out for us, and CLF’s work in California will be more important than ever. I’m energized to be a part of this movement to help ensure that my children and future generations can enjoy all that our National Conservation Lands have to offer.”

Sam Goldman

CLF is also pleased to announce a new position, Director of Strategic Engagement, to be filled by Sam Goldman, who served as California Program Director for the past five years. This position will allow for a dedicated staff person to recruit and inspire our new network of Partners for the National Conservation Lands. Sam will also work to increase the advocacy capacity of the Friends Grassroots Network and assist network organizations with fundraising.

I wanted to share with you, my friends and colleagues, that I have let the Conservation Lands Foundation Board of Directors know that I will be stepping down as Executive Director of CLF at the end of January.

I have had the incredible privilege of working for CLF for nearly a decade. It has been the most rewarding and enjoyable position of my career. Conservation Lands Foundation has an all-star board and an incredible staff, and works with an amazing group of dedicated partners including the Friends Grassroots Network. It’s not easy to leave a position where you get to work with such smart, effective, and caring people. Together, we’ve made huge progress in our mission to protect, restore and expand the National Conservation Lands.

I believe that it’s healthy for organizations and individuals to shake things up, and try new things. That’s why I let the board know that I’m ready for the next challenge. While I haven’t settled on what my future endeavors will entail, I know I won’t drift too far from land and wildlife conservation–it’s too important a cause for me.

Given the strong board leadership and talented staff at CLF, I have no doubt that the organization is positioned to excel and achieve great things in the years ahead. The board is conducting a search–the job announcement is posted here–and hopes to have a new leader announced early in the new year.

While the end of January isn’t that far away, there are still a number of issues that I want to help get over the finish line before I leave, including some important National Monuments. I’ll be in touch when my future plans firm up. Until then, I will be cherishing my final few months here at CLF.

The Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Durango, Colorado with offices in San Francisco, Albuquerque, Bozeman, Las Cruces, Joshua Tree, and Washington, DC. The Conservation Lands Foundation was established in 2007 to protect the premier lands and waters under the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) jurisdiction – specifically the 35 million acres and 2,400 miles of National Monuments and National Conservation Areas, Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers and National Scenic and Historic Trails that make up our National Conservation Lands. Our mission is to protect, restore and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy and partnerships.

The Conservation Lands Foundation has become one of the nation’s most impactful land conservation organizations, protecting millions of acres of lands and building a vibrant grassroots network.

CLF has developed strong relationships with leaders in the Executive Branch, Congress, the Department of the Interior, the conservation community, the media, and western communities.

CLF seeks an experienced and visionary leader who will guide our team in advancing our mission in the critical next phase of our organization. Our new leader will have the opportunity to accomplish major, tangible conservation outcomes for the National Conservation Lands.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for the Conservation Lands Foundation staff, programs, budget, and execution of its mission.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Setting the organization’s strategic direction and providing the leadership to successfully implement it.

The ED will work with CLF’s board and staff to develop a new strategic plan for the organization.

The ED will be responsible for developing, altering or aligning programs, budgets and staffing to ensure successful implementation of the strategic plan.

The ED will be responsible for evaluating the success of programs and ensuring that goals are met and the organization maintains the focus necessary to fulfill its mission.

Fundraising

The ED will ensure the financial health of the organization through effective fundraising.

The ED will meet with individual donors and foundations, develop and maintain strong relationships with donors, and enhance CLF’s fundraising network.

The ED will review key grant proposals.

Budgeting and Financial Oversight

The ED will work with Senior Finance Director and program leads to develop overall organizational budget and individual program budgets.

The ED will ensure organizational financial transparency, compliance and accountability.

The ED will work with Board of Directors and Board committees to develop a new multi-year strategic plan for CLF.

The ED will interact with and update the board regularly, and maintain excellent communications and working relationships between the board and staff.

Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

ED will play a leading role in CLF’s Equity, Inclusion and Diversity committee and ensure that CLF’s equity, inclusion and diversity plan is implemented and benchmarks are achieved.

Staff/Organizational Management

The ED will directly supervise staff members, including the Sr. VP of Programs, Sr. Director of Conservation, Vice President of Development, Senior Finance Director and Associate Director of Operations.

The ED will help fill staff vacancies, mentor and coach staff, and provide opportunities for staff advancement and leadership development.

Programs

The ED will engage in CLF’s program work (expansion, policy, communications, field, restoration) as appropriate and as identified in the strategic plan. Program work may entail but not be limited to:

Working with coalitions on campaign strategy development;

Building and maintaining strong relationships with leaders in the Administration, the Department of the Interior, Congress and partner groups;

Assisting with communications strategy and implementation and serving as a spokesperson for CLF.

Ensuring campaigns are adequately resourced.

Qualifications we’re looking for:

The successful candidate will be thoroughly committed to the Conservation Lands Foundation mission, will have proven leadership, fundraising, strategic planning and management experience as well as demonstrated knowledge of public lands policy. Other qualifications include:

Excellence in organizational management with the ability to supervise and mentor staff, manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget

Strategic thinker with a compelling vision for CLF’s future and the future of the National Conservation Lands

Commitment to building and empowering a grassroots constituency for the National Conservation Lands

Commitment to building effective partnerships and collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders

Ability to make hard decisions in a timely manner

Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion and diversity within the organization and in the environmental movement

Familiarity with, or strong commitment to learn about the National Conservation Lands and federal land management policies

Proven success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate new and existing board member relationships.

Strong fundraising experience with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.

A persuasive and effective communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to long term planning

The Conservation Lands Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability or status as a U.S. veteran.

This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

]]>http://conservationlands.org/clf-job-announcement-executive-director/feed0Connecting Local Communities To An Unknown Backyardhttp://conservationlands.org/connecting-local-communities-to-an-unknown-backyard
http://conservationlands.org/connecting-local-communities-to-an-unknown-backyard#respondWed, 09 Nov 2016 06:54:58 +0000http://conservationlands.org/?p=10375read more]]>Throughout the month of October, Friends and partners in the California Desert hosted National Park Service Centennial events to celebrate 100 years of America’s iconic public lands, including some of the newest additions to the National Conservation Lands – the Sand to Snow and Mojave Trails National Monuments.

These events also highlighted the engagement of diverse local desert communities, the importance of ensuring access and opportunities for all on our public lands for the next 100 years, and they introduced a few new people to the splendor of the great outdoors.

Events like a camping trip in Afton Canyon – part of the Mojave Trails National Monument near the Amargosa Basin – organized by the Amargosa Conservancy and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance, encouraged local families and residents to explore special places in the California Desert.

Here is how one participant of the Afton Canyon campout – Estrella Ruiz, from Victorville, CA – described it:

“I was one of what I imagine are thousands of people who drive along Interstate 15 nearly every day never thinking about what is out there beyond the road. I have found in Afton Canyon, a beautiful place that I would like to visit again and again.

My husband, Edgar, and I brought our 9-month old, Jessica. While at first I was nervous when I heard we were going to be hiking with her, I soon saw that she enjoyed it as much as we did.

We had such an amazing experience enjoying the nature that’s around us. A bird expert identified different birds for us. We also learned the types of plants and soils, and how they all respond to changes in weather in the desert.

These lands have so much value to them and we have been taking them for granted. Being able to go out into these beautiful places has been life changing and a great experience. I am looking forward to seeing and learning about more places. Our desert has so much to offer . . .”

These experiences connect people to the land, allowing them to explore and discover their desert in new ways, often surprising, inspiring, and creating unforgettable memories. That is why we must ensure the next 100 years are even more inclusive, and our lands and waters are well protected for the generations to come.

]]>http://conservationlands.org/connecting-local-communities-to-an-unknown-backyard/feed0We support elevating Native American voices, including those at Standing Rockhttp://conservationlands.org/we-support-elevating-native-american-voices-including-those-at-standing-rock
http://conservationlands.org/we-support-elevating-native-american-voices-including-those-at-standing-rock#respondSat, 05 Nov 2016 18:57:23 +0000http://conservationlands.org/?p=10400read more]]>The Conservation Lands Foundation was founded to protect, restore and expand the National Conservation Lands. To achieve that mission, we focus our efforts on lands that are part of, or should someday be part of, this 35 million-acre system—managed by the Bureau of Land Management on behalf of the American public who owns it.

However, national issues affecting all public lands—and the processes by which we decide their fate—are also core to that mission.

Right now, the Standing Rock Sioux of North Dakota are leading a protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline, construction of which has already threatened and destroyed sacred sites and could threaten the reservation’s only water supply. A quick history is useful here: The pipeline as proposed crosses land once recognized as belonging to the Great Sioux Nation; it was taken from them by a unilateral act of Congress in 1877 that broke the earlier 1868 treaty agreement. The Standing Rock Sioux website cites the Supreme Court’s own conclusion in 1980 that “A more ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealings will never, in all probability, be found in our history.” United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians, 448 U.S. 371, 388 (1980).

In addition, as reported by The Atlantic in September, the tribe’s “right to consult,” recognized by federal law since 1992, was likely not followed in this case, and the Army Corps may also have violated the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Meanwhile, the perpetrators of an armed takeover of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon—led by the Bundy family—were recently acquitted of all charges. As this blog by the New Mexico Wildlife Federation notes, their claims were deeply misguided:

The armed occupiers at Malheur claimed to be giving the land back to the people – while keeping the public out with guns… The occupiers either didn’t know or willfully ignored the fact that they were on public lands – owned by all Americans. Even worse, if the land was going to be “given back” to anyone it would be the Burns Paiute Tribe who have sacred sites in the refuge (which the occupiers dug up with a backhoe) and had worked out peaceful access with Malheur staff.

Native Americans are speaking up for public lands they have ties to in other places as well. In southeastern Utah, five sovereign tribal governments—with support from dozens of others as well as the National Congress of American Indians—came together last year to advance a proposal for a Bears Ears National Monument that includes co-management by tribes. The region contains thousands of sacred cultural and important archaeological sites, and is viewed by many Native Americans as a place that offers direct connection to their ancestors and is key to healing. The proposal was developed after tribal representatives were repeatedly disrespected during the Public Lands Initiative process led by Utah Representatives Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz.

In Nevada, the Moapa Band of Paiutes have been active in a campaign seeking national monument status for the Gold Butte region, for many of the same reasons. Gold Butte is the same region where the Bundy family gained notoriety for refusing to pay grazing fees and ultimately leading an armed uprising and threatening government officials. Bundy family members are still facing charges in Nevada stemming from that incident, but as of yet have not faced any consequences. Meanwhile, Gold Butte remains a national treasure worthy of protection, containing thousands of petroglyphs and other cultural sites, Joshua Tree forests, mind-bending rock formations and recently-discovered fossilized footprints that predate dinosaurs–and have scientists buzzing.

In Arizona, Archaeology Southwest completed an ethnographic study this summer that linked 13 tribes to a culturally and archaeologically rich region known as the Great Bend of the Gila. Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva introduced legislation highlighting the tribes’ connections and calling for the protection of the Great Bend. In August, tribal representatives participated in a press conference with Rep. Grijalva where they detailed key reasons why protecting the area is important to them.

Meanwhile, as the New Mexico Wildlife Federation notes, “peaceful protesters standing up to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline so they can protect their land and water were forcibly removed from their land by law enforcement using Mace and guns firing bean bags and rubber bullets.”

Because of this, we at the Conservation Lands Foundation want to highlight our commitment to the following:

Although we may disagree on the details, a broad majority of Americans support balanced protection of our public lands, to preserve the economic, recreation, hunting, fishing and other opportunities they provide for us and future generations. It’s essential that decisions about our public lands include a broad array of voices, and that stakeholders maintain the civility upon which all democratic processes depend.

Native American treaty rights and tribal sovereignty–along with the government-to-government relationships created by sovereignty–must be honored and respected.

Native American voices must be elevated to the highest levels in decision-making around the use and management of our public lands.

We must recognize and act in ways that counter the history of discrimination and injustice against Native Americans—a history that underlies the ongoing marginalization of their voices.

The Conservation Lands Foundation is strongly opposed to armed uprisings like those at Malheur and Gold Butte, and we strongly support the rights of peaceful protesters—including those at Standing Rock.

]]>http://conservationlands.org/we-support-elevating-native-american-voices-including-those-at-standing-rock/feed0Down by the Río: veterans, young people join forces for the Río Grande del Norte National Monumenthttp://conservationlands.org/down-by-the-rio-veterans-young-people-join-forces-for-the-rio-grande-del-norte-national-monument
http://conservationlands.org/down-by-the-rio-veterans-young-people-join-forces-for-the-rio-grande-del-norte-national-monument#respondThu, 27 Oct 2016 22:09:48 +0000http://conservationlands.org/?p=10274read more]]>Young military veterans, volunteers and staff with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently welcomed 37 high school students to the Río Grande del Norte National Monument to collaborate on a unique stewardship project and field trip. Together they planted approximately 30 cottonwood trees and more than 500 milkweeds plants to help slow erosion and improve habitat for wildlife and insect pollinators along the Rio Grande as it flows through Rio Grande Gorge Recreation Area. The students were from the Native American Community Academy (NACA) in Albuquerque and Taos Vista Grande Charter School. They came to learn about the Rio Grande watershed and take part in a component of river restoration and stewardship.

The event marked the end of an eight-day restoration effort completed by veterans who are part of Southwest Conservation Corps’ Veterans Fire Corps program (left). The veterans crew removed invasive tamarisk and Russian olive from an island and along the bank of the Río Grande to improve habitat and water quality for a variety of wildlife, such as the endangered Southwest willow flycatcher, and for people downstream who also depend on the river.

“These lands belong to all of us, and I’m delighted to have these great partners helping the next generation get some hands-on experience with their management,” said John Bailey, Monument Manager, BLM. “I hope this Monument and these efforts will help teach us skills so that we are not just owners, but also stewards of public lands.”

Veterans corps members teamed up with groups of kids as they spread out near the river banks and campsites, equipped with shovels and work gloves. They made quick work of digging right-sized holes and getting plants in the ground. Cottonwood trees were planted with “cocoons” made by Land Life Company, designed to go in the ground, provide water and support seedling growth through the first year and improve survival rates for the new plantings. (above)

MaryDawn Kidd, a conservation corps member and army veteran who served as a medic in Afghanistan, helped students plant milkweeds. “I have been looking for a way to work outside and in conservation for long time, and this is a great experience.”

Three college-aged Youth Ambassadors representing the Valle del Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque also attended. During a break for lunch, they spoke to the students about the city’s reliance on the river for drinking water and how both the monument and refuge, which is located on the Rio Grande seven miles south of downtown Albuquerque, help protect water quality and are connected in one watershed.

“What inspires me is that we’ve seen how working for conservation and to improve the environment also helps improve and create healthy communities for people,” said Makenzie Sanchez, 18, Youth Ambassador and Albuquerque native (below).

The Conservation Lands Foundation works to protect, restore and expand BLM’s National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy and partnerships. In 2017, CLF will focus its partnerships with conservation corps on recently designated monuments, such as Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Sand to Snow National Monument in southern California and Basin and Range National Monument in Nevada.

“Recently designated national monuments need restoration and stewardship, and they are a great opportunity for conservation corps to gain work experience and provide service to the American people,” said Kevin Heiner, Regional Director for Southwest Conservation Corps. “It’s great to have opportunities for veterans and youth to work on some of these newly protected monuments, like Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, to improve habit, water quality and to make sure the public can get out and enjoy these great places.”

]]>http://conservationlands.org/down-by-the-rio-veterans-young-people-join-forces-for-the-rio-grande-del-norte-national-monument/feed0Celebrating our Public Lands (and green chile!)http://conservationlands.org/celebrating-our-public-lands-and-green-chile
http://conservationlands.org/celebrating-our-public-lands-and-green-chile#respondMon, 17 Oct 2016 20:39:59 +0000http://conservationlands.org/?p=10246read more]]>Residents of Las Cruces, New Mexico can talk all day about our main agricultural crop, green chile. We eat it on our hamburgers, add it to our breakfast, and even eat it on ice cream. Our restaurants have green chile in almost every dish, bloody Mary drinks are made with green chile vodka, and we give them names like Joe Parker, Barker, and Big Jim. We love our chiles and it shows throughout the city.

We also love our National Monuments. Las Cruces is within a 20-minute drive to either the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks (OMDP) or Prehistoric Trackways National Monuments, both part of the National Conservation Lands—35 million acres of our nation’s most spectacular places, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). (White Sands National Monument is also just 45 minutes away.) And, while there are images of these places in photos and posters, and on t-shirts, we are just now beginning to see products and services that highlight our Monuments. For example, we have the OMDP coffee blend, the OMDP cocktail, and the OMDP bread pudding (with green chile and pecans.)

When I received the invitation to be a panelist at the 2016 Friends Rendezvous in Las Vegas, I knew I was given a great opportunity to talk about Las Cruces. And, what an honor to be in the same room with over 300 individuals who work so hard to protect our public lands! It was an incredible honor to be amongst so many wonderful people who are so passionate about our open spaces.

As a panelist for “How Friends Groups can Engage the Business Community on Conservation Issues,” I was able to share with the audience the efforts the Las Cruces Green Chamber has championed in our community that connect local businesses to our Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. It was such a joy to share with the audience the inspiration behind the OMDP Marketing Toolkit, creating different events for the media to cover, creating the first-of-its-kind OMDP and White Sands Girl Scout achievement patches, and ways to teach businesses to become ‘thoughtful stewards’ of our National Monuments.

And while we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Centennial of the National Park Service (NPS), sharing the unique ways we have created to highlight our national monuments makes these milestones even more special. As we move into the next decade for both the BLM and the NPS, we can benefit from the business/national monument relationship and capitalize on economic benefits that our protected public lands bring to our communities.

In the meantime, as a way of thanking all of you for the service you provide with conservation and protection of our public lands and spaces, I wanted to follow through with my promise of sharing my not-yet-but-will-be famous Chile Relleno recipe. Enjoy on behalf of the Las Cruces Green Chamber, and if you’re coming to Las Cruces, get in touch!

RECIPE: Not-Yet-But-Will-Be-Famous Chille Rellenos

Preparation: Chiles

Clean the chiles. That means remove the skin and remove the seeds by slicing about an inch or 2 opening from the stem down. Rinse out the seeds and remove any of the veins of the chile.

Cut slivers (3 to 4 inches long, approx. ¼ inch wide) of Muenster cheese and stuff into the chiles. Muenster is best as it melts but only oozes a little. You will still get a good cheesy bite with every piece of relleno.

Preparation: Batter

It’s pretty much equal parts crappy light beer and flour. Whisk the batter until the flour is no longer lumpy. You may need to open another beer and add a little as you may have a thick batter. It should be the consistency of pancake batter. Add garlic salt and pepper to season the batter. You can make this earlier in the day, or right before you fry. The chiles take a lot of time to prep so you can make this earlier in the day and then not worry about it.

Cooking:

In a frying pan, place about ¼ to ½ inches of cooking oil. Use Vegetable or Canola…DO NOT USE OLIVE OIL. That is just sacrilegious.

Keeping the stuffed chiles moist, (you may need to sprinkle with water or run under water….they just need to be wet enough for the flour to stick to), roll the stuffed chiles in flour, and then in the batter, then place in the pan. You want your oil to be hot but not to the point where you will catch the pan on fire. Fry until crispy. If you are making a bunch of rellenos (because really…the mess for 4 is the same mess for 40), you can keep rellenos warm in the oven until you are ready to serve.

Awesome reheating fact:

You can reheat them by just re-crisping them on a dry, no stick skillet. The oil in them allows them to recrisp. Don’t reheat in the microwave. That just makes them gross.